Today in History

Today's highlight:On July 5, 1943, the Battle of Kursk began during World War II as German forces attacked a Soviet salient (or bulge) around the Russian city of Kursk; in the weeks that followed, the Soviets were able to repeatedly repel the Germans, who eventually withdrew in defeat.On this date:In 1687, Isaac Newton first published his Principia Mathematica, a three-volume work setting out his mathematical principles of natural philosophy.In 1946, the bikini, created by Louis Reard, was modeled by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.In 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.Associated PressIn 1948, Britain's National Health Service Act went into effect, providing government-financed medical and dental care.In 1954, Elvis Presley's first commercial recording session took place at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn.; the song he recorded was "That's All Right (Mama)."In 1962, independence took effect in Algeria; the same day, civilians of European descent, mostly French, came under attack by extremists in the port city of Oran.In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeated Jimmy Connors.In 1984, the Supreme Court weakened the 70-year-old "exclusionary rule," deciding that evidence seized in good faith with defective court warrants could be used against defendants in criminal trials.In 2011, a jury in Orlando, Fla., found Casey Anthony, 25, not guilty of murder, manslaughter and child abuse in the 2008 disappearance and death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.Ten years ago: Two female suicide bombers killed 15 victims at a Moscow rock festival. A bomb blast in Ramadi killed seven Iraqi police recruits as they graduated from a U.S.-taught training course. Serena Williams beat sister Venus 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 for her second straight Wimbledon title. Police in Namibia reported the recent death of N!xau, the diminutive bushman catapulted to international stardom in the film "The Gods Must Be Crazy"; he was thought to be about 59 years old. (Broadcasters note: The exclamation point in "N!xau" denotes a click consonant.)Five years ago: Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title, beating younger sister Serena 7-5, 6-4 in the final. Gas station owner Kent Couch flew a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons more than 200 miles across the Oregon desert, landing in a field in Cambridge, Idaho.One year ago: Trucks carrying NATO supplies rolled into Afghanistan for the first time in more than seven months, ending a painful chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations that saw the border closed until Washington apologized for an airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Former Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla was convicted and sentenced to 50 years for a systematic program to steal babies from prisoners who were kidnapped, tortured and killed during the military junta's so-called "dirty war" on leftist dissidents. Jockey Jorge Herrera, 33, died after falling from his horse during a race at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.(Stations: Single name "Joe" is correct)Today's Birthdays: Actress Katherine Helmond is 84. Actress Shirley Knight is 77. Singer-musician Robbie Robertson is 70. Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 65. Rock star Huey Lewis is 63. Baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage is 62. Country musician Charles Ventre is 61. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 54. Actor Dorien Wilson is 51. Actress Edie Falco is 50. Actress Jillian Armenante is 49. Actress Kathryn Erbe (er-BEE') is 48. Actor Michael Stuhlbarg (STOOL'-bahrg) is 45. Country musician Brent Flynn (Flynnville Train) is 44. Rapper RZA (RIH'-zuh) is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Joe is 40. Rock musician Bengt Lagerberg (The Cardigans) is 40. Actor Dale Godboldo is 38. Rapper Bizarre is 37. Rapper Royce da 5'9" is 36. Rock singer Jason Wade (Lifehouse) is 33. Actor Ryan Hansen is 32. Country musician Dave Haywood (Lady Antebellum) is 31. Rock musician Nick O'Malley (Arctic Monkeys) is 28. Actor Jason Dolley is 22.Thought for Today: "The real drawback to 'the simple life' is that it is not simple. If you are living it, you positively can do nothing else. There is not time." -- Katharine Fullerton Gerould, American writer (1879-1944).Associated Press

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